Posted on 10/17/2002 7:27:03 AM PDT by SWO
A man who stabbed to death a burglar he found in his family's home has been jailed for five years.
Barry-Lee Hastings, 25, stabbed Roger Williams, 35, a total of 12 times after mistaking a crowbar in his hand for a machete. But Old Bailey Judge Brian Barker told Hastings that he had gone too far and his actions were not justified.
Hastings, of Wood Green, north London, was found guilty of manslaughter last month and remanded for reports. His family shouted "This country stinks" as he was led away and said later they would appeal.
They were backed by supporters of farmer Tony Martin who was jailed for shooting dead a burglar.
Judge Barker told Hastings he had repeatedly stabbed Mr Williams in the back, the majority of the attack taking place outside the house when the possibility of danger was over.
He said: "What you did could not possibly have been done while you were still under threat. You had gone into the attack and you were engaged in retaliation.
"Although Roger Williams was a burglar and had no right to be there, a householder is not entitled to use more than reasonable force to defend himself. His presence did not justify the actions you took.
"No one can fail to have sympathy for a householder or visitor who without warning found himself in the position you did when you reached the front door."
Seems to me that if an unskilled person is grappling with an opponent and they are clinched, the stab wounds would likely to be to the opponent's back.
Victim disarmament had gone pretty far by 1939. The UK begged for small arms. American hunters obliged. After the war, rather than returning these precious tools of freedom, the brits used 'em as rebar. Thanks a lot.
Correction: the present government stinks.
Regards, Ivan
Yeah, I was just down in Newcastle and Sunderland yesterday and noticed a bood bit of that myself.
I enjoyed my time in England/Ireland. My only regret is that I was there before I really understood and appreciated good beer.
and I don't need to be armed to feel safe, but that's just me.
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